Hits & Misses
MISS: Polio and measles are no longer running rampant throughout the country, and the reason for that is vaccines. The polio vaccine was introduced in 1955, developed by Dr. Jonas Salk at the University of Pittsburgh, and the measles vaccine followed in 1963. These vaccines have saved millions of people around the world from paralysis, severe illness and death. Vaccines are among the greatest human achievements, and that should seem very obvious. But too many people now run in the other direction from vaccines, thanks to misinformation they see online or misguided notions about “freedom.” And thanks to a law approved in New Hampshire’s House of Representatives, the state could become the first in the nation to no longer require proof of vaccination for measles or polio before a child is enrolled in a day care program. Surely, some of the advocates for this plan believe polio and measles are no longer a big deal, so why have the requirement? But those diseases are no longer at the forefront of our consciousness precisely because vaccines have made them much more uncommon. New Hampshire’s motto is “Live Free or Die,” and unfortunately there could be a lot more of the latter happening if the state starts eliminating its vaccine requirements.
HIT: U.S. Rep. Guy Reschenthaler has shown himself to be a firm acolyte of former President Trump, so much so that he recently introduced a measure that would rename Dulles International Airport outside Washington, D.C., for Trump. The former president, and many of his hard-right allies, are no fans of Ukraine or its president, Volodymyr Zelensky, so it was an open question whether Reschenthaler would vote in support of a long-delayed military aid package to Ukraine. In 2022, shortly after the Russian invasion, the congressman supported aid to Ukraine, but later supported a measure to strip Ukraine of funding, then opposed a similar bill a couple of months later. But last weekend, Reschenthaler did the right thing and supported a $61 billion aid package for Ukraine, along with aid to Israel and Taiwan. Reschenthaler split with the majority of House Republicans on Ukraine aid. The fight in Ukraine is not just about self-determination for the Ukrainian people, it’s about standing with American allies and standing up against bullying. It’s reassuring that Reschenthaler recognizes that.
HIT: About 30 million U.S. workers, or 18% of the entire workforce, had to sign noncompete agreements when they started their jobs. These prevent them from offering their services to a competing employer for a set period of time after they leave a job. You would think this would apply to the denizens of corporate suites, or people with specialized skills in niche industries. But, believe it or not, noncompete agreements have been used when hiring television news reporters and producers, hairdressers, even fast-food workers. The Federal Trade Commission decided in a 3-2 vote this week to prohibit most noncompete agreements. The agency believes that noncompete agreements shackle employees, stifle competition, depress wages and generally serve as a ball and chain for those who have to abide by them. President Joe Biden signaled his support for the decision. Evan Starr, an economics professor at the University of Maryland, told The New York Times that doing away with noncompete agreements “would allow millions of workers to be free to take a better job in their industry. I would expect the labor market to increase almost overnight.”